His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to over 150 students and 50 teachers during their interactive meeting organized by the Foundation for Universal Responsibility and PeaceJam in New Delhi, India on March 20, 2015. (Photo courtesy/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL)

(TibetanReview.net, Mar22, 2015) – Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on Mar 20 met with a group 150 students from 18 Delhi schools; a school in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, and the TCV School at Selakui, along with their 20 mentors and 50 teachers, in New Delhi. Later in the afternoon he began a teaching on Nagarjuna’s ‘Fundamental Wisdom’ to an audience almost exclusively of 340 Indians. Both were organized by the Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness the Dalai Lama (FURHHDL), New Delhi.

The Dalai Lama told his young audience that all human beings were same in their basic attributes and therefore should treat each other equally. “As human beings, whether we are young or old, from the North or the South, whether we have a religious faith or not, there are no real differences between us,” he was quoted as saying.

The audience asked him questions on a range of subjects, including homosexuality, ways to acquire genuine friends, whether science and technology in general are helpful or harmful, how society should deal with terrorists, and about China’s behaviour in Tibet.

Towards the end of the session, student representatives announced projects they were taking on to make a contribution to creating a better world. They included efforts to support human rights, the sustainability of the environment, providing educational help to the economically weaker sections of society, providing educational help in villages and supporting the rights of women and children. Each announcement was met with applause.

The meeting with the students was organized in partnership with the PeaceJam Foundation.

Beginning his teaching on Mulamadhyamakakarika (Nagarjuna’s ‘Fundamental Wisdom’) later in the afternoon to an adult audience of 340, the Dalai Lama said that to gain a deeper understanding of reality, we need to employ intelligence and analysis to address our destructive emotions that are rooted in ignorance. He also said that to defeat the ignorance that is the basis of destructive emotions it’s necessary to refute the misconception of self. He noted that destructive emotions arise spontaneously and impulsively, whereas positive emotions that are a result of reasoning arise more slowly, but are more stable.

After the teaching, the Dalai Lama answered questions from the audience. The teaching resumed on Mar 21.

FURHHDL, set up with a part of the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Peace Prize money, is an international organization committed to helping create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world.